Christmas Markets with FREE ENTRY in North East England

Get your Christmas shopping all wrapped up with over 30 Christmas Markets and Fairs across North East England that have FREE entry for all this festive season.

Starting this weekend this includes events in Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Durham plus many more ... so there are plenty of places to go to find that special gift this Christmas between now and the end of the year.

Xmas Market at Temple Park in South Shields

Sunday 5 November

The largest Christmas market in South Shields

Winter Market at Lancastrian Suite in Gateshead

Sunday 5 November

A stunning Winter Market with over 100 spectacular stalls on both floors of the Lancastrian Suite in Dunston, fairground rides, live entertainment, food and drink and much more.

Brockbushes Christmas Fayre near Corbridge

Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 November

Brockbushes Farm Shop and Tea Room is holding its famous Christmas Fayre. At the fayre there will be an extensive and exclusive range of Christmas gift ideas, toys, decorations and confectionary. The food marquee holds all of our suppliers who will be on hand to taste and sample their product’s, there will also be a range of cheese, wine, sausages, chocolate, jams and preserves, smoked fish and lots of other goodies to tantalize your taste buds!

Once you have trawled through the delights of the food marquee you can move into the enormous gift and craft marquees which are full of exclusive and unusual gifts including wood products, candles, clothing, tableware, soaps, jewellery and much, much more. It’s an ideal place to find your Christmas gifts!

The catering facilities also include an extra marquee providing snacks and beverages throughout the day while the main tea room will be providing a delicious range of homemade food straight from the farm kitchen. NEW for 2017 for the children a Toyset Carousel Fun Fair ride.

Teesdale Christmas Art Fair 2017

From 9 Nov 10 am – 4pm

Teesdale Christmas Art Fair is a large, group exhibition of carefully selected art work by artists from across the region whose work will be displayed in exhibition spaces throughout The Witham. The exhibition comprises original works of art spanning fine art painting, drawing, sculpture, textile art, and limited edition prints in addition to applied art that will be on display and available to buy in the Shop at The Witham.

The Christmas Fair at Durham 2017 at New College Durham

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 November

The Christmas Fair at New College Durham will provide a fantastic, family day out with over 120 stands of arts, crafts, gifts and food, throughout the main College building. Huge, free car park. COSTA coffee shop open all weekend.

Christmas Fair at Kirkharle in Northumberland

Saturday 12 November between 1pm – 4pm

A range of local food and craft stalls. Stalls will be in our indoor marquee. Bring your children along. Kirkharle Courtyard has a small play area, lakeside walk as well at the resident courtyard shops.

Auckland Christmas Food and Craft Markets

Friday 17 to Sunday 19 November

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Auckland Castle, more than 40 local food producers and artisan craftspeople will be laying out their stalls as the formal garden is transformed into a festive shopper’s haven. Browse the large range of unique gifts and speciality goods at our three-day Christmas Food and Craft Market, featuring stalls from a host of local food producers and artisan craftspeople. Embrace the Christmas spirit with carols, mulled wine and fun family activities all weekend. Treat yourself to a plethora of inspiring and unique presents and speciality foods from sweets and seasonal gingerbread to handmade chocolates, jewellery, glassware, ceramics and decorations.

The International Christmas Market will take place at Grey’s Monument, Grey Street and Grainger Street. While the rest of the world are ticking iPods and Wii consoles off their list, you can get back to the cosy feeling of handmade foods and buying special one-off gifts for your family and friends. This market brings us gourmet ingredients and a very real taste of Europe. You can get a currywurst from Germany, waffles from Holland, paella from Spain and crepes – both sweet and savoury from France.

Winter Craft and Food Fayre at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Saturday 18 November

Enjoy the Seasonal Craft and Food Fayre where there will be a variety of food, seasonal crafts and children’s activities such as balloon modelling etc. A local community choir will sing Christmas Carols in the Winter Gardens to help you feel more festive. Craft and gift stalls, food, festive entertainment, Santa's grotto, children's activities and so much more

Bill Quay Christmas Market in Gateshead

Saturday 18 November from 10am-3pm

Creative Base will be hosting this year’s Bill Quay Christmas Market, where there will be plenty of local crafts, Christmas stalls and fab entertainment

Vallum Farm Christmas Market in Northumberland

Saturday 18 November from 10am–4pm

A great selection of stalls to browse at Vallum Farm, with warming and hearty street food and mulled wine to enjoy, kids activities and of course, Santa in his Grotto. Fun for all the family and the best way to do your Christmas shopping!

Durham Dales Christmas Market in Stanhope

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November from 10am–4pm

Join them for the Christmas Craft Market where they will have beautiful crafts & delicious food with both indoor and outdoor stalls to kick start the festive season. There will be entertainment by way of traditional folks singers and costumed characters to keep everyone entertained. The centre boasts gift shops, workshops & a cafe.

Christmas Craft Fair at Souter Lighthouse, South Tyneside

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November from 10am – 4pm

Souter's ever-popular Christmas Craft Fair offers an altogether more relaxed way of shopping while avoiding the hassle of the High Street. Browse hand-made crafts, gifts, cards, jewellery and much more. When it's time to take a break from shopping, indulge in seasonal treats in the Lighthouse Cafe.

The Sill Christmas Market at Northumberland National Park

Sunday 19 November 10am-6pm
Join The Sill for their first Christmas Fair. It's a great way to pick out some handcrafted Christmas presents made in the North East. They’ll have entertainment for all the family and fantastic festive food in the Sill cafe. Why not pick up some beautiful Northumberland Tartan gifts, some sculpture from The Artful Robin or a bottle of Hepple Gin with botanicals from the Northumberland National Park.

Christmas Market at Willington

Sunday 19 November 11am – 4pm

Spectrum Leisure Centre, Willington, Crook

At the fourth annual Christmas Market there will be a range of stalls selling festive gifts, treats and stocking fillers. Santa will be available throughout the day in his sleigh for children to visit - £3.00 per child which includes reindeer dust and a gift. Bar 22 will be open for sweets, drinks and hot snacks.

The Winter Lights Night Market in South Shields

Thursday 23 November 3pm – 8pm

Fill your Christmas stockings at the new Winter Lights Market and support local businesses and artists. With handmade gifts, crafts, prints, festive treats and more, we've got Christmas all wrapped up for you at South Shields Market Square. This new market takes place alongside the Christmas Lights Switch On so guarantees to be a brilliant night for all the family!

Christmas Markets and Traditional Festive Fairground in Middlesbrough

Thursday 23 November to Saturday 16 December

New for 2017, get together with friends and family to find that perfect gift for a loved one and join in the festive fun!

Mistletoe Fair in Morpeth

Saturday 25 November 11am - 5pm

Morpeth Town Hall

Traditional pre-Christmas Fair organised by Morpeth Town Council to coincide with the switch-on of the Christmas Lights. With lots of cards and gift ideas, mulled wine, mince pies and maybe a surprise visitor all dressed in red with a white beard - and no! We don't mean the Mayor (though he'll be around as well). Stalls both downstairs and upstairs - and a Santa's Grotto

Park Lane Market in Sunderland

Friday 24 November to Sunday 24 December 2017

This dedicated Christmas Market will run for five weeks from Friday 24 November to Sunday 24 December 2017 and there will be an extensive range of Christmas gift ideas, toys, decorations and tasty things to eat.

The Christmas Fair at Hexham

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November 10am – 4pm

Wentworth Leisure Centre

Now in its 9th year, is firmly fixed within the Tynedale social calendar with over 125 stands of arts, crafts, gifts and food will take every available space throughout the Leisure Centre and the indoor marquee, to ensure some fabulous Christmas shopping. A great day out with lots to see and refreshments provided all weekend by Active Northumberland.

Nutcracker Christmas Market at The Discovery Museum

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November 11am – 4pm

Due to popular demand the Christmas market will return this winter outside on the Plaza at Discovery Museum. This year it will be themed around The Nutcracker. Browse and buy from a range of heritage & innovative crafts, art, food and gifts, whilst enjoying some festive entertainment.

On Saturday we'll be joined by The 68th (Durham) Regiment Light Infantry 1814 Re-enactment group, with music from the Salvation Army Band, between 11am and 12.30pm. As well as the chance to meet Santa's Reindeers.

On Sunday Heaton Voices Choir will be entertaining the shoppers at 12pm & 13.30pm.

Christmas Fair at Haven Point, South Shields

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November 10am – 4pm

The Christmas Fair at Haven Point just gets bigger and better every year and is fast becoming one of the best in the whole of the North East! With over 50 stalls selling beautiful arts and crafts, jewellery, trinkets, decorations and unique festive food, this is the perfect place to pick up a fantastic selection of presents! It's a great opportunity to pick up a gift or a nice treat for yourself, while at the same time you are able to support some of our most talented craftspeople and traders from around the area.

The Tyne Bar Christmas Market in Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle

Saturday 25 November from 12noon

For the 6th Annual Christmas Fair at The Tyne Bar in the Ouseburn Valley, there will be a day of entertainment to be held outside in the sheltered beer garden under Glasshouse Bridge. There will be festive music, approx. 15-20 unique crafts and gift stalls, mulled wine and ciders, and yummy Christmassy treats from various pop-up food stalls and The Tyne Bar kitchen!

Music programme:

12 o'clock - Fair opens

12.30 - Ravenswood Junior School Choir: singing carols

1.30 - Rock Choir with choirmaster Rob Slater

2.30 - The Millie-Eve Duo

6.30 - Paige Temperley

9.00 - DJ

As well as the gift stalls, there will be several food traders like "Northumberland Soup Co", "The Travelling Bee Co", and "The Northumberland Cheese Company" and a gourmet chocolate drinks menu. We will be doing much of the food from the Tyne Bar kitchen, which will include gourmet pies. We also have chefs Stephan and Sophie from The Tower Cafe cooking their fantastic pizzas from their own wood burning pizza oven.

Beautiful Christmas Market at Bede Tower in Sunderland

Saturday 25 November 25 11am-2pm

A beautiful location for a Christmas Market in the heart of Sunderland City Centre, hosted by Bethany City Church. This will be a lovely place to visit and have a browse to start your Christmas shopping whilst also having the opportunity to have some delicious food and hot drinks amongst all the shopping! Mini-carol services will also be happening throughout the event with live music, this will be an opportunity for you to spend some time out from all of the build-up to Christmas.

Chopwell Christmas Experience

Saturday 25 November – 17 December, 8am-8pm

The renowned Christmas tree sales in the Land of Oak and Iron, bring a wide selection of fantastic quality British-grown trees to the Wood. The atmosphere is magical and buying your real tree from Chopwell will help protect the Wood.

Christmas Market at Keeper's Café in Dipton

Sunday 26 November at 11am–3pm

Come along to Keeper's Cafe for a Christmas Market, our gift and gallery will be full of Christmas goodies we will also be joined by a selection of local businesses to offer you the perfect Christmas shopping experience (we hope!!) A perfect way to start the Christmas shopping, combined with Keeper's handmade cakes and delicious hot drinks, what better way to spend a Sunday.

Sunday 26 November 11am - 3.30pm
This annual event, which takes place inside the beautiful Lady Waterford Hall and outside under cover of a street marquee, grows in popularity each year. With over 50 stalls selling a huge range of goods - from artisan bread to holly wreaths, seasonal cakes and bakes to hand-made knitwear, and some exclusive 'not available on the high street' items too. With such a variety of local crafts, foods and gifts there will be plenty to choose from when selecting your Christmas gifts. Plenty for the kids with a carousel ride plus Santa and his 'reindeer' Merlin, arriving at 12 noon.

Christmas at the Grainger Market in Newcastle

Friday 1 December 5pm - 10pm
Enjoy a late-night shopping experience packed full of merriment and festive cheer in one of Newcastle's most iconic buildings, The Grainger market. On 1st December, the historic market will remain open from 5 pm until 10pm where there will be late night shopping, music, food, dancers, tours, sing-a-longs, freebies, offers, a Christmas Bar and hot drinks. FREE tickets are available here. VIP tickets also available.

Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival in Durham City

Friday 1 – Sunday 3 December

Based around the Cathedral and Castle, as well as other city centre locations, Durham City’s Traditional Christmas Festival provides excellent Christmas shopping opportunities alongside festive entertainment.

The Craft and Gift Marquee on Palace Green will feature over 190 stalls, while 30 regional food and drink producers will be in the Cloisters of Durham Cathedral. There will also be outdoor markets in Durham Market Place, and Millennium Place, and more than 50 more traders in Durham’s Market Hall.

Enjoy the local producers market in the Cathedral Cloister with a range of delicious breads, pies, cheese, hams, pickles, jams, cakes, sweets, chocolates and desserts – plus various hand-made crafts, candles, jewellery, gifts and much more!

Join in the Carols for All Services over the weekend or an evening concert with Christmas with Durham Cathedral Choir, bookings essential.

Or simply get away from the bustle and view the magnificent collections of treasures in the Open Treasure exhibition spaces within the monastic Claustral buildings as part of your visit to the Cathedral.

Whitley Bay Station Christmas Fayre & Lights on

Saturday 2 December at 11am–4.30pm

This year will see more fabulous stalls, music, entertainment, fabulous food & drink and also the lights on at the station at 4.30pm! The Christmas trees will be on sale again, so you can carry your tree home and decorate it to continue the festivities at home! You may even find some fabulous decorations to add to your tree!

Chopwell Christmas Experience Weekend

Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December, 11am - 3.30pm

Santa will be joining the renowned Christmas tree sales in the Land of Oak and Iron, with crafts and refreshments too.

Festive Corbridge

Monday 4 December from late afternoon into the evening.

Late night shopping, food, music, stalls and so much more all around the village on this very special night of the year in the Market Place and all around the village.

Christmas in the Coach Yard at Raby Castle

Friday 1 – 23 December 10am – 4pm

Enjoy the festive ambience of Christmas in the Coach Yard at Raby Castle. Illuminated trees will greet you in the grounds, along with the smell of mulled wine and real Christmas trees in the Coach Yard. Find beautiful presents in the Gift Shop and enjoy a festive treat in the Tearooms.

Raby Christmas Trees - Get into the Christmas spirit by choosing from hundreds of real Christmas trees grown locally on the Raby Estate. All lined up in the Coach Yard ready for you to pick and take home. We grow mainly Nordman Fir and Norway Spruce trees on the Raby Estate, a selection of hand-made wreaths and foliage will also be available.

Gift Shop - The Gift Shop at Raby Castle has been re-stocked this year with beautiful gifts for your home and garden, traditional toys and games for children, as well as specially selected Christmas decorations and festive goodies, to help you find a unique gift for friends and loved ones.

Tearooms - The tearoom, housed in the old stables at Raby Castle will be serving warming drinks, cakes and festive themed snacks as well as daily hot specials. Visit the new ‘Christmas Cabin’ outside for warming mulled wine, gingerbread and other festive treats.

Butterwick Hospice Christmas Fayre in Bishop Auckland

Saturday 2 December 11am

Butterwick Hospice, Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland

Our annual Hospice Christmas Fayre is taking place on Saturday 2nd December here at our Bishop Auckland Hospice. We have lots of Christmas Stalls, face painting, refreshments, raffle and a tombola.

Christmas craft fair Arts Centre Washington

Saturday 2 December 10am-3.30pm

Join us for our Christmas Craft Fair as the arts centre is filled with a variety of stalls selling products created by local artists and craftspeople. With stalls selling jewellery, cards, bags, home baking and more this is the perfect place to find an unusual handmade gift or treat. There will also be refreshments on sale including mince pies and mulled wine and carol singing by our fabulous Community Choir.

Gibside Festive Market

Saturday 2 December from 10am

Leave the busy city centre behind and join us in a relaxing 600-acre garden. From 10am there will be a variety of market stalls offering appetising seasonal foods and high-quality crafts. It makes the perfect winter day out. Festive Markets are ideal for meeting friends and catching up over mulled wine, and of course some retail therapy.

Christmas Craft Fair at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, 10am
The National Glass Centre values all that is made locally and is holding a craft fair to celebrate the beautiful handmade crafts the North East has to offer. The fair will be packed with stalls from local and regional crafters over two days. It's the perfect opportunity to buy a unique handmade gift or just treat yourself to something really beautiful! Their children's Love Christmas event will also be on both days so feel free to drop-in on the activity whilst you're there.

Chopwell Christmas Experience Weekend

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, 11am - 3.30pm

Santa will be joining the renowned Christmas tree sales in the Land of Oak and Iron, with crafts and refreshments too.

Festive Farmers Market at Raby Castle, Staindrop

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December 10am-5pm

Join us in our Christmas Coachyard with a hand-picked selection of stalls offering food and drink ideas from around the region.

Washington Village Festival

Saturday 9 December

Come along and enjoy this Festive event at Washington Village, enjoy the Christmas market, delicious food, feed the reindeer, get a photo with family and friends in the snow globe, chat to the naughty elves and much much more. This event is supported by Washington Area Committee.

Woodhorn Winter Market

Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December 10am - 4pm

Woodhorn's annual Winter Market takes place in their beautiful Workshop Galleries. The Market features a fabulous selection of gifts, food and produce from some of the region's finest makers, crafters and producers. Please note: Entry to the Winter Market and Museum is free, on site parking is £3.50 per vehicle. The weekend will also include the Pityard Skating Rink and Father Christmas Stable Grotto but additional charge and booking procedures apply for these activities.

Gibside Festive Market

Saturday 16 December from 10am

Leave the busy city centre behind and join us in a relaxing 600-acre garden. From 10am there will be a variety of market stalls offering appetising seasonal foods and high-quality crafts. It makes the perfect winter day out. Festive Markets are ideal for meeting friends and catching up over mulled wine, and of course some retail therapy.

The Alphabetti Christmas Market in Newcastle

Saturday 16 December 1pm – 5pm

The 16th will be when we at Alphabetti celebrate our Christmas Day. Our Christmas Market will begin at 1pm including food stalls, art, handmade stocking fillers and fun craft stalls for the kids. Merriment, music, mince pies and mulled delights in abundance.

If you know of any other free Christmas markets and fairs please add them to the comments.

All event details are subject to change please do check with event organisers.

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About Me

Deb Sharratt

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A Lifestyle - Food - Travel Blog all about enjoying life with my family of boys in North East England and beyond.
We cover cultural events, family days out, and eating out in Newcastle, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Teesside, as well as travel, short-breaks and holidays further afield.
We have recipes to cook at home and review books, toys and games too, and feature the free family events and activities happening across North East England.